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North Country Fire Department to Upgrade Aging Equipment

NEW YORK — Firefighters of the Brushton Volunteer Fire Department will receive 12 new self-contained breathing apparatuses and seven complete sets of personal protective equipment as a result of an Assistance to Firefighters Grant that is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Located in Franklin County’s Town of Moira in north-central New York, the Village of Brushton’s fire station has 32 volunteers who have had to borrow outdated equipment to respond to fires, as well as to share it while training. Firefighter Jude Ducharme of the village’s department said that he and his colleagues will “no longer have to use gear that has been handed down and has been damaged while doing our jobs.”

Brushton’s new mayor, Kevin Pentalow, expressed appreciation for the grant. “It means that our firefighters will have new coats, pants, gloves, helmets, boots, and hoods that are not charred, torn, or discolored, and they’ll be well protected while doing their jobs. And, we’ll have a full complement of breathing apparatuses that are less than 10 years old. There’s a lot of safety provided by this gear.”

The new equipment is made possible through a grant from FEMA’s Region II, which covers New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Dale McShine, the Region’s Director of Grants, reported that the grant totals $102,228.00, the federal share of which is $97,360.00.

The equipment will also put Brushton’s fire equipment in line with safety criteria set by the National Fire Protection Association and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Brushton’s firefighters respond to some 60 calls for assistance annually to a population of approximately 1800. Firefighter Ducharme said that the department is increasingly assisting neighboring departments in dispensing emergency medical services.

Tania Hedlund, FEMA’s Region II Branch Chief for grants, reports that in fiscal year 2014, the region awarded 273 grants, totaling $95.6 million.

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North Country Fire Department to Upgrade Aging Equipment

Be Prepared—Download FEMA Smartphone App

ATLANTA, Ga – Take steps now to prepare your family for disasters by downloading the FEMA smartphone app.

Much of the region has been under heat advisories from the National Weather Service over the past few weeks. While it has cooled down in recent days, summer continues for several more weeks. The FEMA app lets you receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the nation, making it easy to follow severe weather that may be threatening your family and friends.

To help you stay safe during extreme heat, take the following actions when your area is under a heat advisory:

Postpone outdoor games and activities and limit exposure to the sun.
Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine; limit alcoholic beverage intake.
Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing.
Spend the warmest part of the day in temperature-controlled buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, or community facilities.
Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.

Download and use the free FEMA app, which provides valuable safety tips to help you prepare for and recover from more than 20 natural and man-made hazards. The app also provides family communication plans, a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, and maps of open shelters and disaster recovery centers. The app is available on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

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Be Prepared—Download FEMA Smartphone App

Dangerous Heat Conditions are in the Forecast

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) wants individuals and families to be safe when faced with extended periods of high temperatures.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued excessive heat warnings and advisories in areas throughout the Midwest. Heat indexes in excess of 100 degrees can be expected. It is essential residents take necessary precautions to avoid the harmful impacts of the high temperatures.

“A combination of high temperatures and high humidity can create a dangerous situation for you and your family,” said FEMA Region V Administrator Andrew Velasquez, III. “Learn and put into practice the steps you should follow during periods of extreme heat. Remember to check in on family, friends, and neighbors especially those who are elderly, disabled or have functional needs to ensure they are safe.”

Extreme heat brings with it the possibility of heat-induced illnesses, including severe sunburns, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and even heat stroke. Understand your symptoms, and take the appropriate actions, seeking medical attention if your conditions are severe.

During extremely hot weather, you should take the following precautions:

Become familiar with the emergency plans of your community, school and workplace.
Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings that are air conditioned.
Drink plenty of water.
Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes.
Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning.
Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day.
Know the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and seek medical attention if your conditions are severe.

Find other valuable tips by downloading the free FEMA app today, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. The FEMA App helps you learn what to do before, during, and after emergencies with safety tips & localized weather alerts from the National Weather Service.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, 312-408-4455

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Dangerous Heat Conditions are in the Forecast

Appeals and Comments on Revised Preliminary Flood Maps for St. Bernard Parish Ends Soon

DENTON, Texas – Homeowners, renters and business owners are encouraged to review revised preliminary flood maps for St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. Anyone who wishes to file an appeal or comment has until Aug. 10, 2016, for submission.

“We hope that everyone reviews the maps to understand the flood risks involved,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “It is also very important that we receive the public’s input on these maps.”

Appeals are formal objections and must be based on technical data showing proposed maps to be scientifically incorrect. Appeal topics include: Proposed base flood elevations or flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries and zones, or floodways. Anyone making an appeal must include the method, data and analysis used to support the claim.

Comments are objections to a base map feature change. Those feature changes could include labels, incorrect road names or jurisdictional boundaries, or any other non-appealable change.

The public can provide comments and appeals to their local floodplain administrator, who will forward them to FEMA for final resolution.

The maps can be viewed at the parish floodplain administrator’s office, or by:

•   Viewing the preliminary flood map at: http://maps.riskmap6.com/LA/StBernard/
•   Using a live chat service about flood maps at go.usa.gov/r6C, just click on the “Live Chat” icon;
•    Contacting a FEMA Map Specialist at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com.

The next step is the resolution of all the comments and appeals. When that is complete, FEMA will notify communities of the effective date of the final maps.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Appeals and Comments on Revised Preliminary Flood Maps for St. Bernard Parish Ends Soon

Ten Safety Tips for this 4th of July

CHICAGO –Ensure your Independence Day weekend is filled with celebration and not regret with these 10 fire safety tips, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region V office in Chicago:

Be sure fireworks are legal in your area before using or buying them.
Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities and never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks. Sparklers alone account for one quarter of emergency room fireworks injuries.
If you set off fireworks, keep a bucket of water handy in case of malfunction or fire.
If fireworks malfunction, don’t relight them! Douse and soak them with water then throw them away.
Never ignite fireworks in a container, especially one that is glass or metal.
Use your grill well away from your home and deck railings, and out from under branches or overhangs.
Open your gas grill before lighting.
Periodically remove grease or fat buildup in trays below your gas or propane grill so it cannot be ignited.
Declare a three-foot “kid and pet-free zone” around the grill to keep them safe.
Avoid loose clothing that can catch fire when cooking on the grill.

You can find more information and tips on being fire safe this Fourth of July, by visiting www.usfa.fema.gov and be sure to download the FEMA app, available for Apple, Android and Blackberry mobile devices. The app includes home fire safety tips and reminders users can set to test smoke alarms (monthly), change smoke alarm batteries (yearly), and practice fire escape plans (every six months).

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, 312-408-4455

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Ten Safety Tips for this 4th of July

FEMA Awards $1,071,593 Grant to Hubbard County

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $1,071,593 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to Hubbard County, Minn., for the construction of two safe rooms at Camp Wilderness Boy Scout camp.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate the risk of loss of life and property,” said FEMA Region V administrator Andrew Velasquez III. “The construction of these safe rooms will protect the lives of vulnerable citizens by providing a secure location to seek shelter from tornadoes and other high wind events.”

“Boy Scouts visiting Camp Wilderness will be safer when severe weather hits, thanks to a local, state, and federal partnership,” said Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management director Joe Kelly. “Safe rooms are one way communities across the state are reducing the risk that comes with disasters. These lifesaving projects are possible when we combine resources and work together, and we encourage more cities and counties to apply for grants that will help them protect their residents.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the $1,428,790 eligible project cost. The Boy Scouts of America Northern Lights Council will contribute the remaining 25 percent, or $357,197.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, 312-408-4455

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FEMA Awards $1,071,593 Grant to Hubbard County

Additional West Virginia Counties Approved For Disaster Aid

CHARLESTON, W.v. – The counties of Clay, Fayette, Monroe, Roane, and Summers counties are now eligible to receive federal assistance. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

In addition, federal funding is available for state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures in Clay, Fayette, Monroe, Roane, and Summers counties.

On June 25, 2016 President Obama announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the State of West Virginia to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides beginning on June 22, 2016, and continuing. The original declaration made federal funding available to affected individuals in Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties.

Federal funding was made available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures in Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1- 800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at fema.gov/medialibrary and youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3.

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Additional West Virginia Counties Approved For Disaster Aid

FEMA In Close Coordination with the State of West Virginia As Severe Weather Continues

PHILADELPHIA – FEMA Region III is deploying an Incident Management Assistance Team and Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) teams to West Virginia to provide support and guidance on the Federal Disaster Declaration Process and PDAs in response to current flooding and severe weather.

These teams will participate in joint PDAs with the State of West Virginia, local officials, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to assess damages and the impact to communities. PDAs, which are an information gathering process, are the first step in helping a governor determine whether the scope of damage is beyond what the state is capable of handling and if additional assistance is necessary.

Information is jointly compiled and reviewed by the state, at which point, the state may decide that a request for federal assistance is warranted. The PDAs will include Clay, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Webster, and other counties.

FEMA Region III and our partners at the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) want to encourage individuals and families to take steps to be safe during severe weather and flooding events. If drivers encounter water on roadways, turn around, don’t drown.

Residents in potentially affected areas should continue to monitor local radio or television stations for updated emergency information, and follow the instructions of state, local, and tribal officials. If you are in need of emergency assistance, please dial 9-1-1.

When severe weather hits, the first responders are local emergency and public works personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations, and numerous private interest groups. The individuals within these organizations provide emergency assistance to protect the public’s health and safety and services to meet immediate needs. For additional safety information, check with your local officials and media sources through social and traditional media accounts.

To learn more about what to do before, during and after severe weather, visit www.Ready.gov.

FEMA’s support of State and Local response and recovery operations are in direct accordance with the Robert T. Stafford Act. For additional information on flood preparedness, visit www.fema.gov/ or www.dhsem.wv.gov.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at fema.gov/medialibrary and youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3.

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FEMA In Close Coordination with the State of West Virginia As Severe Weather Continues

City of Baltimore Enters Voluntary Floodplain Management Program

PHILADELPHIA – Residents of the City of Baltimore, Maryland have received a reduction in their flood insurance premiums through implementation of floodplain management measures encouraged by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) oversees the NFIP, which administers a program called the Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed minimum NFIP requirements. The program includes 10 different class rating levels based on the number and type of activities voluntarily initiated by the participating community. Each level corresponds to a percentage discount on National Flood Insurance policy premiums within the municipality.

“The CRS program provides a strong incentive for communities to take flood risk reduction into their own hands,” stated FEMA Region III Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney. “Mitigation actions that reduce the impact of future floods on communities are to be championed, and the City of Baltimore has taken strong steps in this direction.”

As a member of the CRS, the City of Baltimore is within an elite group of 14 Maryland communities that have received this recognition. With the continued steps taken by the City of Baltimore to protect its citizens and increase its resiliency, it has entered the Community Rating System program as a Class 5 participant. The Class 5 rating qualifies eligible National Flood Insurance Program policy holders in floodprone areas an average of $213 savings on their annual premium. In total, entry into the program accounts for a total savings of over $400,000 annually for citizens of Baltimore.

Under the CRS, local officials are asked to meet three goals: (1) reduce flood losses; (2) facilitate accurate insurance rating; and (3) promote the awareness of flood insurance. Communities can earn a CRS rating by submitting an application explaining the projects they have in place or development. Once the information is verified and approved, FEMA provides flood insurance premium discounts through the NFIP. The amount of a property owner’s policy discount is based on the community’s CRS rating.

For each class that a community moves up to, it provides its residents with an additional 5% reduction in their flood insurance premiums up to the 45% reduction that a Class 1 community receives. As a Class 5 community, the City of Baltimore enables its residents to receive a 25% reduction on eligible flood insurance premiums.

For information about flood insurance, property owners should contact their insurance agent, visit floodsmart.gov, or call the NFIP’s toll-free information line at 800-427-4661. To learn more about the CRS, visit floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/crs/community_rating_system.jsp.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at fema.gov/medialibrary and youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3.

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City of Baltimore Enters Voluntary Floodplain Management Program

When there’s Lightning, Bolt to Safety Indoors

CHICAGO – It’s too easy to think we’re invincible when it comes to lightning storms—going outside, staying in the pool, or continuing a softball game as thunder sounds in the distance are not safe activities when lightning and thunder are in the area. Instead, move indoors when thunder roars—such a simple step could save more than 400 people from getting struck by lightning every year.

In recognition of Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 19 – 25, 2016, FEMA is encouraging everyone to get storm safety smart:

There is no safe place outdoors when thunderstorms are in the area. Get indoors and avoid contact with corded phones, electrical equipment, plumbing, and windows and doors.
Water is an excellent conductor of electricity – so get out of and away from water!
Electricity always seeks the shortest path to its destination. Avoid tall, isolated trees or other tall objects in a lightning storm.
When camping, set up in a valley, ravine or other low area. Tents and open-sided shelters don’t provide protection from the dangers of lightning. If there isn’t a substantial building nearby, take shelter in your vehicle.
Wait 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder before going back outside.
Anyone struck by lightning will need immediate medical attention. Call 911 and remember: lightning victims do not carry an electrical charge and are safe to touch.

During Lightning Safety Awareness Week, FEMA Region 5 will be hosting a social media engagement campaign in collaboration with the National Weather Service in Chicago—get involved by following FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5 and www.facebook.com/fema. You can also find more valuable lightning safety tips by visiting www.ready.gov/thunderstorms-lightning and www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov. Consider also downloading the free FEMA app, available for your Android, Apple or Blackberry device, so you have the information at your fingertips to prepare for severe weather.

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Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, 312-408-4455

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When there’s Lightning, Bolt to Safety Indoors

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